Hoop-lug.



No. 791,945. PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

M. BENZ.

HOOP LUG.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 24. 1904.

3 vwentoz A a $3; Wag/wax 72w W y UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MITCHELL RENZ, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

HOOP-LUG- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,945,dated June 6, 1905.

Application filed May 24, 1904. Serial No. 209,508.

To all whom, it 77'7/(07/ concern.-

Be it known that I, MITCHELL RENZ, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Hoop-Lugs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in hoop-couplingsfor use upon tanks, vats, cisterns, &c.; and its object is to provide asimple, inexpensive, and durable device adapted for use in connectionwith flat hoops or bands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coupling to which theend of the hoop may be readily secured without the necessity ofemploying studs, screws, or other similar fastening devices.

Another object is to provide a coupling which can be cast in a singlepiece of metal and which is so formed as to permit the couplings whenarranged at the two ends of the hoop or band to be placed at desiredangles to each other without preventing the insertion of thesecuring-bolts thereinto.

Another object is to provide hoop-couplings having apertures formedtherein into which bolts of different sizes may be inserted.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of acoupling which comprises a base having an ear at one end thereof, saidear being formed integral with the base and provided with alongitudinallyextending slot for the reception of the hoopfasteningbolt. An aperture is arranged within the base adjacent the ear and hasinwardlyextending lugs at opposite sides thereof. The end of the hoop isadapted to be inserted under the base and through the aperture, so as tobe overlapped by the lugs. It is then bent backward from the base andunder a strap, which is formed integral with the base and is raisedthereabove.

The invention also consists of the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred formof my invention, and in which- Figure l is a section through a portionof a tank having my improved hoop-couplings in position thereon. Fig. 2is an enlarged plan view of one of the couplings with ahoo'p connectedto it. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the coupling andshowing the end of the hoop in elevation, and Fig.4 is an end elevationof the coupling.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a base-platehaving a groove 2 in the lower face thereof, said groove being,preferably, of the same width as the hoop 3 to be used in connectionwith the coupling. The base is enlarged at one end and terminates in anear L, having a longitudinally-extending slot '5 therein. This car istapered upward from the base thereof, so that the slot 5 varies inlength. The inner face of the ear is preferably at right angles to thebase. An aperture 6 is formed within the enlarged portion of the baseand has inwardly-extending lugs 7 projecting inwardly from the sidesthereof. These lugs are located above and adjacent the edge of theaperture 6 farthest removed from the ear 4:, the space formed betweensaid edge and the lugs being substantially equal in width to thethickness of the hoop 3. A strap 7 extends across the base 1 adjacentthe outer end thereof and is raised above the base, so as to form aspace of sufficient size to receive the end of the hoop 3. This strap 7is preferably above and parallel with a slot 7 which is formed withinthe base, and therefore the strap can, if desired, be formed of themetal removed in the formation of the slot.

When it is desired to secure a hoop in position around a tank, vat, orcistern, each end of the hoop is provided with a coupling such as abovedescribed. The hoop is secured to the coupling by placing the endthereof in the groove 2 and inserting it through the aperture 6 andunder the lugs 7. Said end of the hoop is then bent backward upon thebase 1 and inserted under straps 7. After both ends of the hoop havebeen connected to couplings in the above-described manner a bolt 8,having its end screw-threaded, is inserted into the elongated slots 5and nuts 9 are placed thereon and turned to draw the ears 4 of the twocouplings toward each other, so as to bind the hoop firmly upon theobject inclosed thereby. It will be seen that after the couplings havebeen secured in position the ends of the hoop cannot be withdrawn fromengagement therewith. I attach importance to the fact that in thisconstruction of coupling it is unnecessary to perforate the hoop for thereception of any securing means, and, moreover, by providing elongatedslots 5 in the ears L the couplings can be placed practically at anydesired angles to each other without preventing the insertion of thebolt 8 thereinto.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of myinvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Acoupling for hoops formed in a single piece and comprising abase havingan enlarged portion provided with an aperture, said base having alongitudinally-extending hoop-receiving groove in its inner face, an earintegral with the base and having a slot therein, a hoop-engaging lugintegral with the coupling, and a strap upon the base for engaging theend of a hoop.

2. A coupling for hoops formed in a single piece and comprising a basehaving an enlarged portion provided with an aperture, said base having alongitudinally-extending groove in one face thereof, an ear integralwith one end of the base and adjacent the aperture, said ear having anelongated slot therein, inwardlyeXtending lugs projecting from the sidesof the aperture and above and adjacent one end thereof, and atransversely-extending strap upon the base adjacent its outer end andforming a space for the reception of a hoop.

3. The combination with a pair of couplings each comprising a basehaving an aperture therein and a longitudinally-extending groove in oneface of the base, an car at one end of the coupling having an elongatedslot therein, and inwardly-extending lugs projecting from the side ofand adjacent one end of the aperture, of a hoop extended between saidcouplings and seated adjacent its ends in the grooves, the ends of thehoop being extended through the apertures and beneath the lugs, a strapintegral with each coupling and spaced therefrom to receive the ends ofthe hoop beneath them, a bolt projecting through the slots in the ears,and means for securing the bolt in position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MITCHELL RENZ.

itnessesz M. L. J OHNSON, B. DAVIS.

